Follow Lexus News

Lexus CT 200h Owner Blog

Daily Email Newsletter

Photo of the Day

Lexus Vehicles for Sale

Site Sponsor

Lexus will build a new GT race car capable of racing at the Le Mans 24 hours in 2016, according to a Racecar Engineering interview with RC F chief engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi:

The firm surprised many by revealing an all new GT3 car at the Geneva motor show, but the car is the starting point for a much larger project.

Speaking at the launch of the new Lexus RCF the Chief Engineer Yukihiko Yaguchi explained why a GT3 version was launched at this time. “We do not know what the new rules will be, but we could not wait until they appeared as the production car is launched now, we had to design the car to the rules we knew and that is GT3. This car was designed for global competition, GT300, the USA and of course here in Europe.”

Under the proposed plans, manufacturers will produce a single car that can be built to two different specifications for the two different classes — Yaguchi-san addresses this situation in the interview:

Asked about the future of GT racing Yaguchi admitted that the car would likely be seen at Le Mans. “We have to be racing in whatever the global GT class is, so in 2016 we will produce a kit which will allow this car to race in GT and GT+.”

Comments

This is great news! Toyota continuing to race with their LMP1 class hybrid prototype in the FIA's WEC series as well as 24 Hours of Le Mans, and having Lexus join the GT class would be great! This combined with the possibility of Toyota joining the World Rally Championship makes it a very bright future for Toyota and Lexus motorsport fans.